Amusement device



1940.- J. N. cAYo 2,210,024

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 26, 1939 INVENTOR. jZZ7 4 I uu; /v. c yo ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES AMUSEMENT DEVICE Julius N. O'ayo, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Application April 26,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices.

This invention relates to amusement or exercising devices which might be termed return balls. It has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved device of this character.

Second, to produce such a device which may be produced simply, easily, and economically.v

Third, to produce such a device which may be utilized either for amusement or exercising in a completely new manner.

Other objects and advantages relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claim.

A device embodying the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of my device showing one manner of using the same.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a portion of the cover member prepared for assembling.

' Fig. 3 is a view of another portion of the cover prepared for assembling.

Fig. 4 is a View in partial section showing the details of the completed and assembled device.

Fig, 5 is a view showing a difierent manner of using the device.

The device consists primarily of a ball I to which are attached two elastics 2 and 3 which are adapted to be grasped in the hand 4 of the user. The user, as is shown in Fig. 1, punches the bag with his fist and the bag goes away from and returns to the fist because of the attached elastic members 2 and 3.

The bag I consists of a cover 5 made of light weight cloth. The cover consists of a central portion 6 and end portions 1 and 8. Within the cover I place a small rubber elastic balloon 9, commonly known as a toy balloon. The neck ll) of this balloon extends into an opening II in one end member 8.

The elastic members 2 and 3consist merely of a single length of elastic which is looped to form a slip to attach the ball to the elastic and close the neck of the balloon.

In order to give the cover 5 its form I take a strip of cloth and stretch the longitudinally extending center portion of the cloth over a suitable form which results in a relative shortening of the edges, giving the cloth strip a form such as shown in Fig. 2. The end members 1 and 8 are merely circular pieces of the same cloth which are also stretched at the center, dishing them as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the strip 6 are joined by a row of stitching l2 and the end 1939, Serial No. 270,052

members I and 8 are respectively joined to the edges of this strip by lines of stitches l3 and I4. By stretching the cloth as I do I greatly simplify the production of the cover 5 because the cover is given the necessary semi-spherical shape by the stretching. It is not necessary to cut and fit many pieces of material as would be the case if ordinary methods of forming such a cover from fiat cloth were employed. By having the central stretched strip and the end members whichare relatively flat I give a desirable shape to the ball for the particular use to which it is to be put, since the ends of the spherical ball are slightly flattened, forming a highly satisfactory striking surface for the fist of the user of the device. I

When the cover is completely sewed it is a simple matter to insert the toy balloon into the bag through the aperture l I. It is then inflated and because of the confining effect of the cover it is possible to confine considerably more pressure in the balloon than could be confined therein without the cover, making the ball sufliciently lively for the intended purpose.

By fastening the elastic directly to the neck of the balloon I provide a highly satisfactory means of attachment of the elastic, and by having the elastic serve to close the neck of the balloon I eliminate extra expense which would be entailed if it were necessary to provide some means of attachment for the elastic and to also provide a seal for the balloon neck.

As above stated, both the elastics may be grasped in one hand by the user who merely returns,the ball to his fist and strikes it. It is possible by using my double elastic to grasp one elastic in each hand as shown in Fig. 5. In such a case the ball is struck alternately with the fists of the user.

My device furnishes considerable amusement for young and old and also beneficial exercise. It may be made very inexpensively.

I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention although it will be apparent that other forms of the invention could be made. I have defined the invention in the following claim and wish to be limited only to the scope of such claim,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An article of the class described comprising a cloth cover, a toy balloon enclosed in said cover,

and a pair of elastic members extending from the cover at a single point and adapted to be grasped in the hands of the user.

' JULIUS N. CAYO. 

